We all pay your benefits

princeofpounds

Surprised there isn't a thread about this program already... anyone watch it?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b036yrm8

I was pleasantly surprised by some of the working people; they seemed to pick up quite quickly on some of the 'oddities' about the lifestyles of those on benefits and did question them.

I would have preferred them to be more anaytical with their questioning though. For example the working family guy questioning the family who get £1800 a month benefits was too sympathetic, rather than questioning why they were given more money than he even earns. But then I guess you can hardly expect them to be Jeremy Paxman.

I was disappointed that they didn't choose an example of someone who was totally instituationalised. I thought the single older man was going to be that, until I realised he was actually a single father with primary care of the children.

MacMickster

I think that next week's episode will be more telling, when the unemployed follow and comment on the lifestyles of their employed counterparts.

The young media studies graduate with unrealistic expectations really p!55ed me off. Considered himself too good for shop work, but simply must have branded trainers, iphone etc. His grandparents seemed to consider that they were helping him by giving him money, but in my opinion are merely enabling his delusions of self-worth.

The single mother who was perfectly capable of working, but received sufficient on benefits to keep a menagerie of pets, smoke and find childcare to go out to the pub once a week is an example of the benefits system being more than just a safety net.

The single father, however, appeared to be unemployable, provided that employers have other candidates to choose from. I suspect that he will face more problems once the children are adults.

The other family were probably the most interesting, and I wish that their circumstances and finances were examined in rather more detail. Benefits of 1800 pounds monthly, but still reliant on food banks suggests to me that something was missing from the analysis of their situation. They were given a very sympathetic portrayal, which I remain to be convinced was wholly justified.

At least this programme appears to have tried to present a balanced viewpoint, rather than setting out to demonise benefit claimants. I await the next episode with interest.

Own_My_Own

princeofpounds wrote: »

Surprised there isn't a thread about this program already... anyone watch it?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b036yrm8

There is. this one was started on Wednesday.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4697675

Conrad

I see welfare tenants daily, many of whom we've known for years, through here and in the main we conclude most could actually work, but somehow the system has drawn them into a dependency mind-set.

There is nothing progressive about the way welfare has gone from safety net for the needy to alternate lifestyle for millions.

The worst effect we see is on the children of such people. The kids become just like their guardians in the main. Absolutely nothing to do with helping the needy, just an alternate lifestyle.

A few we deal really cannot work and I am truly glad society is there for them.


The real tragedy comes in the shape of naïve apologists such as the child-like Owen Jones. He considers his role a moral crusade as he has no idea of what the world of welfare is really all about.

jojo1964

Saw part of it, the bit about food banks and the overweight woman said without food banks her kids might not eat, not a problem she was having, now this is not me having a go at overweight people (I'm 20st but over 6 ft 2). But simply making an observation

jojo1964

My problem with programmes like this is that participants are hand picked, and depending on the bias of the producers can give a very different view to reality. A thread that has been removed on here today was about someone who earns 700 a month, claimed 2000 a month in benefits, had 6 kids, but even after paying debts, 3 mobile phones, 200 a month for presents, still had a surplus of over 700 a month, now how many working couples with a family have that amount left over, that's where, in my opinion, the system is wrong.

Soubrette

It's my view that everyone seems to consider the amount of benefits that they personally claim is the right and reasonable amount.

krok

I loved the program. BB secrets and lies.
Oh was i watching something else.

Never mind perhaps the viewers will vote someone off the dole and give them a job.

Maybe they will have to do tasks next week for their shopping budget.

Maybe IDS is in a secret house next door.

Cant wait till next week.

grizzly1911

MacMickster wrote: »

At least this programme appears to have tried to present a balanced viewpoint, rather than setting out to demonise benefit claimants. I await the next episode with interest.

That is the difficulty with a short programme never enough time to reveal a true analysis. No doubt the participants have been matched like those "holiday share" type programmes so that they bounce off good and bad.

Margaret and Nick could be politicians the way some of their taxi discussions felt staged.

As you say next week will prove interesting.

I wonder if a further series could be the workers paired with investment bankers or similar. How would the carer feel picking up £1300 per month v £5/6K and 100% bonuses?

I thought the food bank person suggesting one of the "necessities" of the parcel was toilet roll yet this attracts VAT.

Pete111

grizzly1911 wrote: »

That is the difficulty with a short programme never enough time to reveal a true analysis. No doubt the participants have been matched like those "holiday share" type programmes so that they bounce off good and bad.

Margaret and Nick could be politicians the way some of their taxi discussions felt staged.

As you say next week will prove interesting.

I wonder if a further series could be the workers paired with investment bankers or similar. How would the carer feel picking up £1300 per month v £5/6K and 100% bonuses?

I thought the food bank person suggesting one of the "necessities" of the parcel was toilet roll yet this attracts VAT.

Most people who earn that kind of cash work their behinds off.

I have a mate who works in the city for a brokerage. He is up at 5.30am every day and at his desk by 6.45am. Leaves work after 6 usually. Sure he does well for himself and enjoys a work hard/play hard lifestyle but most weeks he works 55-60 hours by his own reckoning.

You may not like how their money is earned but don't make the mistake of thinking that the majority of people in the city don't put in serious amounts of effort. Especially in this economy.

elantan

i work those hours and more sometimes, hard physical work, i dont get paid anything like that